What is the role of a notary public?

The role of a notary public centers around performing official notarial acts, which are crucial for authenticating and verifying documents to ensure their legitimacy. Notaries serve as impartial witnesses during the signing of important documents, such as contracts, deeds, and affidavits. By confirming the identity of the signers, ensuring they are signing willingly and understanding the contents of the documents, and then adding their signature and seal, notaries help prevent fraud and bolster the integrity of legal processes.

The other options suggest activities that fall outside the notary's defined responsibilities. For example, acting as a mediator in disputes or representing parties in legal matters pertains to the legal profession and requires specific qualifications that notaries do not possess. Additionally, while notaries may assist in the execution of legal documents by verifying their execution, they do not create the legal documents themselves. Their focus remains on the witnessed act of signing and the notarization process.